San Antonio Spurs' Reign of Basketball Brilliance is Over

A strange thing happened in Dallas, Texas, the San Antonio Spurs played a basketball game with only two players: King Duncan and Knight’s Champion: Sir Tony Parker. Spurs remaining court jesters provided no comedic relief.

The aged King Duncan has played 14 equivalent seasons, including playoff games, and his Reign of Brilliance is now over.

The San Antonio Spurs fall into years of NBA mediocrity began during the third quarter of game four of the First Round 2009 Playoffs in Dallas, Texas.

In the third playoff game, Spurs scored the fewest points in their playoff history. This fourth game was to be the victorious response to the Dallas Maverick’s embarrassing whipping of the Spurs. Yet it was not to be. After losing game four to Dallas, it's all over!

The signs of King Duncan’s decline were there long before his knees and Ginobli’s ankle problems became regular Spur excuses for losses:

1) worst March record in over a decade,

2) a winning record over only one of seven Western playoff teams,

3) losing consecutive two games to the Oklahoma Thunder, fifth worst team in the NBA at that time,

4) from February 27, 2009 to April 7, 2009—winning only 11 of 22 games,

5) falling asleep in the second half with Old Man Syndrome—regular four to six minute non-scoring droughts, and

6) choking important game-winning foul shots.

In game four, the two Spurs played an inspired first half barely clinging to 55-51 lead.

This four point lead required Sir Parker score 31 points matching a 31 years old Spurs’ record by George “The Iceman” Gervin. What would the second half demand from Sir Tony?

Dallas fans knew this game was over before the second half began.

In the third quarter, Spurs collapsed immediately!

Spurs relinquished more than a half-time lead with a 9 point deficit, they ended an Era of Brilliance beginning with an NBA Championship that included four NBA titles over a nine-year span.

The Spurs could muster only 23 second half points without Parker’s scoring. Even with Parker, only an anemic 35 second half points scored! Duncan and Parker had no chance playing with a cast of clowns!

Spurs court jesters had the best seats, but they should have sat on the court instead of running around like crazed clowns fleeing a tiny circus car. Mavericks may have tripped over a seated jester aiding the ailing King Duncan and Sir Tony Parker, who physically jousted in athletic combat.

Spurs court jesters, soon to be junior high coaches in Loser, Alaska are Bonner, Udoka, Mason, Thomas and Gooden.

These “professionals” pathetically played 76 minutes, threw up 16 shots and made 0 as in zero! Remaining jesters? Not one scored more than seven points! King Duncan tallied 25 and Sir Parker had 43- still not enough as the Spurs lost 99-90!

What most NBA players and fans knew by the end of this game—this series, King Duncan’s reign, the future years of Spurs basketball dreams—IT'S OVER!

Popovich took the Spurs out to a steakhouse the night before that game. Smart move! Did the Maverick’s pay the tab? Popovich threw a party for a departing King, he knew after game three- it’s all over!

Popovich never realized it takes up to 24 to 72 hours to fully digest meat; and burning protein-based calories always slows peak athletic performance. Popovich should have taken players to the foul line with a basketball, especially King Duncan. A dozen missed foul shots could have provided a margin of victory.

Was Popovich's party apologizing for his poor coaching decisions: playing Duncan 30 of the first 36 painful minutes against New Orleans on March 29th in a losing effort? Making Duncan and Parker remain on the court with a 23 point lead against the Mavericks until six minutes remaining in game 2? Dozens of other similar poor decisions?

Over 81 percent of those who read my Why the Spurs Will Fold in the Semifinals disagreed with my analysis made over a month ago. A 96.5% of my readers expected the Spurs to win the First Round! Most felt the Spurs would win the Western Conference Semi-finals. We were both wrong! Spurs will never get that far. It’s over!

Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobli should retire at the end of this season, instead of embarrassing themselves like punch-drunk boxers hit in the head one too many times.

King Duncan and Manu Ginobli will leave with love, dignity, and undying respect of all NBA fans, players and San Antonio's citizens.

Hail King Duncan—Thank You for your Reign of Brilliance, but it's over, yes very sadly, it's over.